Updates from Monday 9 - Sunday 15 October
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Some of the stories the Express and Star are covering today include:
Worcestershire Royal Hospital is getting a new helicopter landing pad for critically ill patients.
It'll take a year to build and cost £1.2m, with the cash coming from the charity Help, external, which is funding a wave of new hospital helipads around the country.
It will be located next to the oncology centre.
Motorists are being warned to expect some road closures this Sunday for the Birmingham International Marathon.
Some of the road closures will run between 02:00 until 22:00, drivers are advised to leave extra time for their journeys.
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For a full list of the road closures, take a look here, external.
Faith Page
Reporter, BBC Shropshire
Council spending on youth clubs and other activities could be cut in many of Shropshire's towns and villages.
Out of the 18 areas which currently get funding from Shropshire Council, just six will remain, in Shrewsbury, Bridgnorth, Oswestry, Ludlow, Whitchurch and Market Drayton.
The council says it appreciates the policy could have a detrimental affect on young people especially if it means youth clubs having to close.
The plans haven't yet been approved and there will be a period of consultation.
Some of the stories in the Worcester News today:
Schools that continue to completely segregate boys and girls could find themselves penalised by Ofsted following a landmark ruling.
Three Court of Appeal judges have ruled that the mixed-sex Al-Hijrah school policy of separating pupils by gender is unlawful sex discrimination.
Ofsted, which brought the challenge, has previously made it clear that if the appeal succeeded "it will apply a consistent approach to all similarly organised schools".
It means that state schools that segregate pupils for all areas of their education, including lessons, breaks, clubs and trips, could find themselves given a lower rating by the schools watchdog, and in breach of equality laws.
About 20 mixed-sex state schools in England are believed to be affected - they are likely to now be given time to make changes.
A Staffordshire care company says it could go out of business, after losing a contract with the county council.
The authority has issued new contracts and says it's reducing the number of care companies it works with to improve the service, and give workers better pay and conditions.
Image source, ThinkstockFirst Call Home Care has lost its contract for Kidsgrove and Newcastle.
Staffordshire County Council says people's care will not change and those affected by changes will keep their existing carers, until the new company is ready to take over.
Here's a couple of gorgeous snaps taken by our BBC Weather Watchers.
This first one was taken in Codsall, by Sue Snaps.
Image source, Sue SnapsLeek is the setting for the incredible picture taken by Videoman.
Share your weather pictures here.
Image source, VideomanPete Mason creates tributes to the Queen - using her stamps.
Read MoreBirmingham City Council said it took court action in defence of the Al-Hijrah school because it felt it was "being held to a different standard".
Colin Diamond, corporate director of children and young people, said there were "many other faith schools around the country that practice gender separation, none of which have been downgraded by Ofsted because of this".
“This case was always about fairness and consistency in the inspection process, he said.
"This is not a case where boys and girls were being treated differently. Ofsted found that boys and girls were treated equally."
Quote MessageWe have a strong history of encouraging all schools to practice equality in all its forms and would robustly tackle any discrimination, but the issue here is about schools being inspected against unclear and inconsistent policy and guidelines."
Colin Diamond, Corporate director of children and young people
An auction of ceramic bear statues, which were part of a summer art exhibition, has raised £257,300.
Read More
Monica Rimmer
BBC News
We shared with you earlier the terrifying news that today is of course Friday the 13th.
Here's some of your thoughts, taken from BBC WM's Facebook page, external.
Sam Collingwood said: "Friday was Robinson crusoes best mate. Robinson crusoes boat was named 13. Friday crashed the boat named 13 into some rocks and they were eaten by giant prawns."
Image source, Getty ImagesBernadette Mccann added: "My hubby and is sister were both born on Friday 13th."
And Steven Bailey somewhat humorously said: "Today I will mostly be walking under ladders."
Mark Lawrenson
BBC Sport pundit
Image source, BBC SportBoth of these teams went the whole of September without a league win, although it is Leicester who are in more trouble near the bottom.
It is a boost for the Foxes that Jamie Vardy is fit after missing England duty last week with a hip injury because they need him firing on all cylinders.
I am sure Leicester's results will improve soon, and I am not too worried about West Brom under Tony Pulis either.
It is never panic stations with Pulis in charge, and the only thing he has to worry about is keeping the Baggies' Chinese owner Guochuan Lai happy.
Lawro's prediction: 2-0
Wretch 32's prediction: Jamie Vardy will get at least one goal, and Leicester will win 2-0.
During the appeal hearing, Peter Oldham QC, representing the Al-Hijrah school, said boys and girls were "treated entirely equally while segregated" and argued that was lawful.
He said Ofsted did not claim that separation was discrimination until 2016.
The judges, however, said they did not accept the school's argument.
The auction of 91 decorated ceramic bears raises money for Birmingham Children's Hospital Charity.
Read MoreHere are three of the main stories on the Stoke Sentinel website:
A veteran who says he's getting his life back, after receiving support from the military charity Combat Stress, is campaigning against plans to close its residential centre in Newport.
Combat Stress says it's responding to increased demand by offering people care in their own homes instead, but Peter Neale says this won't be as good.
Image source, PAMr Neale said one of the advantages of the residential centre was that it allowed veterans to support each other.
He has been getting care at Audley Court for nearly 20 years and set up a Facebook page, opposing the closure.
Quote MessageThe staff are phenomenal, they make you feel welcome, you feel you can talk to them about anything. With the other veterans there, we support each other. It's like being back in battalion."
Peter Neale, Veteran
Amanda Spielman, chief inspector of schools, said she was "delighted" with today's ruling in the Court of Appeal.
"Educational institutions should never treat pupils less favourably because of their sex, or for any other reason," she said.
Image source, Google"The school is teaching boys and girls entirely separately, making them walk down separate corridors, and keeping them apart at all times.
"This is discrimination and is wrong. It places these boys and girls at a disadvantage for life beyond the classroom and the workplace, and fails to prepare them for life in modern Britain."
She added she expects around 20 schools to be affected by this ruling.
We've asked the Al-Hijrah school for a response.
Three Court of Appeal judges in London have overturned last year's finding by a High Court judge that Ofsted inspectors were wrong to penalise the mixed-sex Al-Hijrah school in Birmingham.
It was on the basis of an "erroneous" view that segregation amounted to unlawful discrimination.
Image source, iStockIn a test case ruling this morning, the judges unanimously allowed a challenge by Ofsted's chief inspector against Mr Justice Jay's decision.
The ruling is expected to affect other schools with a segregation policy.
Mobile phone coverage in the UK is "frankly deplorable", says the chairman of the national infrastructure commission Lord Adonis.
He's launching a public consultation in Birmingham today alongside five of the UK's metropolitan mayors.
Image source, Lauren Hurley"Making a mobile phone call is rather like watching an early Charlie Chaplin black and white film where the picture is fuzzy and it disappears every ten seconds or so," Lord Adonis said.
"And try making a mobile phone company on a train and it's nearly impossible across much of the network."
